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<< Our Photo Pages >> Cerne Abbas Giant - Hill Figure or Geoglyph in England in Dorset

Submitted by JimChampion on Saturday, 02 November 2013  Page Views: 41469

Multi-periodSite Name: Cerne Abbas Giant
Country: England County: Dorset Type: Hill Figure or Geoglyph
Nearest Town: Dorchester  Nearest Village: Cerne Abbas
Map Ref: ST66660168  Landranger Map Number: 194
Latitude: 50.813702N  Longitude: 2.474597W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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wildtalents visited on 27th Jun 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 2 Access: 5 Viewed from the tourist car park it is a bit disappointing: you can't necessarily make out the whole outline of this chalk giant. When I get my helicopter license I'll have a better look. But if you're nearby it's worth a quick look-see.

hevveh saw from a distance on 24th Sep 2022

custer visited on 6th Apr 2012 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Good walk from car park at main road, earthworks on top of hill, nice place, some good stories like the references to Oliver Cromwell.

markj99 visited on 23rd Jun 2010 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 3 Access: 4 I was somewhat underwhelmed by the Cerne Abbas Giant: drone pictures of the giant raised my expectations of the site. From ground level the chalk figure loses its impact.

trystan_hughes visited on 1st May 2009 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

woodini254 visited on 10th Oct 1994 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 3

TheCaptain maddy myf JimChampion X-Ice Wazza12 have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.2 Ambience: 3.6 Access: 4

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by theCaptain : The Cerne Abbas Giant in his latest disguise - having grown his own Movember facial hair. Thanks to BBC for this picture (Vote or comment on this photo)
Hill Figure in Dorset. The Cerne Abbas Giant is a hill-figure cut into the turf and underlying bedrock to expose a white chalk outline. He is almost 60 metres tall, and brandishes a club 36 metres long. His body is outlined and detailed by narrow trenches no more than 0.6 metres wide, and his condition has been maintained by periodic scouring by local people - an activity traditionally separated by long intervals.

The antiquity of the Giant is still a topic of debate. The various interpretations suggest that he might be a prehistoric fertility symbol (not surprising considering his disproportionately large phallus), a Romano-British depiction of Hercules or some other god of war, or even a huge 'cartoon' from the seventeenth century lampooning Oliver Cromwell.

Access Assuming that you don't have the power of flight, the Giant is best viewed from the far side of the Cerne valley. He is clearly visible from the A352 road and there is a 'viewing area' with car parking spaces, picnic benches and interpretation board next to the turning to Cerne Abbas village. A waymarked "Giant Walk" takes the pedestrian visitor past his feet, but due to severe erosion of the turf the public is requested to remain outside the barbed-wire fence.

Note: The Cerne Abbas Giant has grown his own Movember facial hair in support of Movember, which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
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Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Thorgrim : Too good to be true! The Cerne Abbas Giant was long thought to be a prehistoric hill figure showing a powerful fertility god. Other theories favoured a Roman depiction of Hercules wielding his club. Recent dating of the disturbed soil indicates that it is much more recent. It is now thought to be a caricature of Oliver Cromwell and mocks his self agrandisement as the great all powerful leader. ... (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Cerne Abbas Giant Homer Simpson
Cerne Abbas Giant Homer Simpson submitted by JimChampion : 26 July 2007. A close-up of the giant Homer Simpson painted on Giant Hill (to the left of the Giant himself). Part of a stunt to publicise the cinema release of the Simpsons film. The figure was made using water-based paint - the idea being that it would gradually fade away. This was our second visit to the Giant viewing area on this afternoon - on the first it was pelting down with rain and ... (5 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by dodomad : Cerne Abbas Giant - one of a set of illustrations by Eric Ravilious, featuring hill figures from the south-east and south-west of England, all painted in 1939, and intended to illustrate a children’s book he was working on for Puffin. Now available as a set of postcards from Rather Good Art. The book got as far as the mock-up stage by 1942, but sadly never reached completion. Raviliou... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by AngieLake : Found this great vintage postcard just before Christmas, in Exeter. He doesn't seem to have changed much. Little dots around the figure might be people scouring the chalk, perhaps? Copyright of Aerofilms & Aero Pictorial Lts., Elstree Way, Boreham Wood, Herts. No stamp or message on rear to help trace date. Serial no. on front right = 4960A (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by JimChampion : View across the Giant towards Cerne Abbas village in the valley below. If you want to see him 'properly' then the Viewing Area alongside the main road on the other side of the valley is a good place.

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by wildtalents : Just a 'phone photo from summer 2023, on my way to a retreat near Honiton. You need a drone or at least a good quality telephoto lens to really do the Giant justice.

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine : 2008

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Antonine

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by TimPrevett : First glimpse of the Cerne Abbas Giant while out on good 8 mile circuit of the Dorset countryside, 28/12/16.

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by Bladup : Cerne Abbas Giant.

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by croppy : Cerne Abbas Giant

Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas Giant submitted by JimChampion : The Cerne Giant, looking a little faded even though he's illuminated by some (rare) sunshine on this rainy summer's day. Off to the left the giant Homer Simpson is painted onto the hillside. I didn't get a photo of them together as the patchy sunlight didn't allow it (and the Homer was much whiter than the Giant). (4 comments)

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"Cerne Abbas Giant" | Login/Create an Account | 40 News and Comments
  
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UK's rudest chalk figure gets a glow-up to stop it fading in the rain by Andy B on Saturday, 06 June 2026
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For centuries, the Cerne Abbas Giant has been hard to miss.

The 55-metre chalk figure, cut into a hillside near the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, shows a naked, club-wielding man whose outline has made him one of the UK's most instantly recognisable historic landmarks.

But the National Trust, which owns and manages the site, says changing weather patterns are making it harder to keep the Giant prominent on the hillside.

National Trust staff and volunteers will this week pack tonnes of new chalk onto the figure to restore the crisp whiteness of his outline.

Luke Dawson, a National Trust ranger who helps look after the site, says heavier winter rains are washing chalk from the slope more quickly, while mild, damp conditions give algae more chance to grow.

He says this wetter weather has been having "a dulling effect" on the Giant's outline, leaving it greener and less distinct between maintenance work.

More at BBC News:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvppe84lnvo

With many thanks to Coldrum for the details
[ Reply to This ]

Cerne Abbas Giant - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Publicity by TimPrevett on Friday, 23 October 2020
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The Giant has had a giant face covering attached over his todger, mankind style, in another publicity stunt - this time for Sacha Baron Cohen’s film sequel, the Borat Subsequent Movefilm. More on the ”local" radio station page https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/dorset/news/cerne-abbas-giant-given-face-mask-mankini
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Re: Cerne Abbas Giant gets a Makeover by AngieLake on Thursday, 29 August 2019
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This article caught my eye tonight!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7402757/Cerne-Abbas-giant-gets-makeover.html

Also more info on hill figures here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_figure
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cerne Abbas Giant flasher - did anyone spot this man? by AngieLake on Thursday, 31 August 2017
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See this news item today:
http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/police-hunting-man-who-performed-400888
Maybe one of our readers was in the vicinity and knows who this is??
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Giant Search For Wildlife by Sunny100 on Thursday, 08 June 2017
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I see the phallus of the Cerne Abbas chalk figure has been damaged by someone placing letters onto it with the name of a certain lady called Theresa. Here's a BBC link to this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-40187946
[ Reply to This ]

Morris Dancing, 5.15am, 1st May 2015, Wessex Morris Men. by Anonymous on Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Morris dancing above the Cerne Giant. 1st May 2015, 5.15am. Wessex Morris Men.

http://www.wessexmorrismen.co.uk/programme.aspx
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Giant support for Movember by TheCaptain on Saturday, 02 November 2013
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The Cerne Abbas Giant has grown his own Movember facial hair in support of Movember, which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

More here
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cerne Abbas Giant by PeterKnight on Monday, 15 April 2013
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I am proud to announce the publication of my 8th book: The Cerne Giant - Landscape, Gods and the Stargate (Stone Seeker Publishing, 11.99).
In it I solve some of the mysteries of the Giant, such as his age, identity, landscape alignments, stellar and solar alignments. He is indeed, as some have suspected, an Iron Age construct, and his ID is connected with Orion/Osiris/Gwyn ap Nudd.
I am doing local talks and some tours of the Giant in 2013 - some free. I am talking about the Giant at the Pagan Fed Conference in June.
Please check out my website: http://www.stoneseeker.net
Bright blessings, Peter Knight


[ Reply to This ]

Wessex Morris Men May 1st 2012 dancing at dawn Cerne Abbas Giant by coldrum on Friday, 27 April 2012
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May Day at Cerne Abbas
when: May 2012 (annual)
where: Cerne Abbas
time: On the giant 5.15am; in the square 7am

Get up close and personal with the Cerne Abbas Giant during this ancient May Day celebration. Traditionally the Wessex Morris Men dance on the mighty chalk figure at the crack of dawn before celebrations in the village of Cerne Abbas.

The Cerne Giant is a 180-foot carving of an aroused naked man sprawled across a Dorset hillside, hewn in wide trenches of chalk. The giant has marked a fertility power place since ancient times, and he is said to have the power to help childless couples.

As well as mystical types, the Wessex Morris Men dance on the Giant as the dawn breaks, snaking their way back down to dance in the village square, followed by a well-earned breakfast at a designated pub - just follow the crowds.


http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=35259

http://www.wessexmorrismen.co.uk/aboutUs.aspx
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Street View by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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View Larger Map
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Re: Cerne Abbas Giant by holger_rix on Saturday, 13 March 2010
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Streetview
Cerne Abbas Giant
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Cerne Abbas Giant: is he older than we thought? by Andy B on Tuesday, 08 December 2009
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Standing proudly on a hillside in West Dorset, the chalk outline of the Cerne Abbas Giant has perplexed visitors for centuries.

To the frustration of archaeologists there is no written record of the anatomically detailed chalk figure before the late 17th century, but clues that the giant was created earlier than that have emerged in the form of suggestive earthworks built nearby.

Rob Wilson-North, historic environment manager for the Exmoor National Park Authority, believes that the giant may date from the late 16th or early 17th century after he discovered a pair of man-made earth mounds and a long gulley protruding from them.

In a letter to Current Archaeology magazine Mr Wilson-North explained that he was left in no doubt about the meaning of the earthworks, which lie in an abandoned garden a few hundred metres from the giant.

“An element of the garden is a pair of round water parterres with a straight watercarrying feature emerging from between them. The similarity on...

Read the rest of this post...
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Fading giant brought back to life by Andy B on Tuesday, 23 September 2008
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It is obvious he is a symbol of fertility. The Cerne Abbas Giant usually stands proud on a Dorset hillside overlooking the village from which he takes his name. But over the past 12 months he's been fading. So has it affected his legendary powers?

It's all down to the wet weather encouraging algae, lichen and grass to grow in the chalk trenches of his outline.

But couples wanting to test the fertility legends need not worry - a team of National Trust volunteers is at hand.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7618000.stm
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Volunteers help in giant makeover by JimChampion on Tuesday, 16 September 2008
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Volunteers have started work to restore Dorset's Cerne Abbas chalk giant to its former glory.

Conservationists began a makeover on Saturday to re-chalk the 180ft (54m) ancient fertility symbol, which has become obscured by vegetation and moss.

Full story at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7618064.stm
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Sheep shortage hits Giant's look by Andy B on Tuesday, 24 June 2008
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A shortage of sheep has led to a famous landmark in Dorset disappearing under vegetation and moss.

The 180ft (54.8m) famous fertility symbol Cerne Abbas Giant was also left struggling under plant life encouraged by a wet start to the summer.

A flock of 100 sheep is usually lent to the National Trust for a few weeks in May to graze on the land.

But a shortage has forced the trust to re-chalk the etching. It is hoped a flock will be on the hillside soon.

Rob Rhodes, National Trust head warden for west Dorset, said: "Every year we have sheep on the hillside eating the grass to keep the giant visible.

"We rely on local farmers and the way agriculture is going at the moment, there's hardly any sheep left in that part of Dorset."

He added that the wet weather had caused a lot of moss and lichen to grow on the giant making the white chalk a greeny colour.

"He is not completely invisible but he is quite overgrown," Mr Rhodes said.

The first record of the giant, also...

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Paint attack leaves costly mark on giant by coldrum on Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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A clean-up of the vandalised Cerne Giant is going to be more difficult and costly than first thought, the National Trust admitted today.

The night-time paint attack left the chalk figure's world famous genitalia purple.

Trust spokesman Alex Brennan said: "The paint is not a water-based one and is going to be difficult to remove. In the short-term it's been covered with a limewash to restore the colour but that won't last. Rain will wash it away before long.

"We are dismayed by this vandalism. There have been publicity stunts at the giant before but nothing like this where it's left an indelible mark. It's going to take time and manpower to remove it."

Robert Rhodes, the trust's head warden for West Dorset, said: "This is a terrible case of vandalism to the giant.

"The giant is a scheduled ancient monument of national importance and this wanton vandalism is the equivalent of spraying graffiti on Stonehenge or St Paul's Cathedral.

"As a charity we will now have to...

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Re: Cerne Giant daubed by 'vigilante' by coldrum on Friday, 31 August 2007
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BBC picture and video links:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/image_galleries/cerne_giant_vandalism_gallery.shtml?comment=response#comment

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?tab=ns&q=cerne+abbas+giant+&scope=all&uri=%2F
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Re: Cerne Giant daubed by 'vigilante' by coldrum on Friday, 31 August 2007
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Vandals paint giant penis purple
Friday, August 31, 2007

The Cerne Abbas giant may never be the same again.

Vandals not only painted his penis purple but also used permanent paint.

The attack has angered the National Trust, which owns the site in Dorset.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=64166&in_page_id=34
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Cerne Giant daubed by 'vigilante' by coldrum on Thursday, 30 August 2007
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RESIDENTS living close to the Cerne Abbas Giant are angry with campaigners after the famous landmark was vandalised.

A man from the Fathers 4 Justice group, which campaigns against family law favouring mothers, is thought to be behind the 40ft penis on the National Trust site being painted purple.

The landmark was targeted overnight between Friday and Saturday by someone describing himself as the Westcountry's 'Purple Phantom'.

Cerne Abbas Parish Council chairman Peter Smith said: "This is particularly irritating because it has happened inside the enclosure that protects the giant.

"The land there is sacrosanct because it is a special site.

"We don't want people damaging it for obvious reasons."

Purple is the international colour for equality.

Written beside the giant were the words Read Family Court Hell' - a reference to a recently published book by Fathers 4 Justice campaigner Mark Harris.

The action follows a rash of purple doors being painted on to the...

Read the rest of this post...
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Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by coldrum on Thursday, 30 August 2007
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As of 29th August the homer simpson image is still visible.
The paint appears to have damaged the grass.
Picture here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12122959@N06/1227674813/
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    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by JimChampion on Sunday, 16 September 2007
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    Had a close look at the Homer today (18 Sept), almost all the paint has washed away and the grass appears to be fine. Couldn't see any blue tinge on the Giant's phallus either, good cleanup job.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by coldrum on Saturday, 28 July 2007
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Has Simpson found a new Homer?

Despite a good rinse and the best efforts of the Pagan Federation, the stink over a giant Homer Simpson remains.

Pagans were so upset by the image that they pledged to use 'rain magic' last week to wash it away.

Well, rains have come, but Homer remains.
Downpours in the past week failed to wash away the 50m (180ft) cartoon character, next to the Cerne Abbas giant, leaving residents upset.

'This is a spiritual and sensitive landmark and it is being treated like a blank billboard,' said one villager.

The National Trust, which owns the original giant on the hill, yesterday warned any attempt to make Homer permanent 'would be a different case altogether' because it was told the paint used was waterbased.

The image was a stunt to promote the new Simpsons film.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=58742&in_page_id=34
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    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by JimChampion on Saturday, 28 July 2007
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    I had a look on Thursday and he was still going strong, despite the fact it was battering down with rain. I was amused by the likeness on the hill, but I still won't be going to see the film. The shiny whiteness of the Homer put the faded Giant to shame.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by coldrum on Thursday, 02 August 2007
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    The shiny whiteness is probably due to some form of optical brightners used in the paint to make it whiter than white.
    It does'nt appear to be biodegradable so far.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by TheCaptain on Sunday, 22 July 2007
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See how Homer was created here
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Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by Andy B on Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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Probably a good time to mention that we have the definitive book on the Cerne Giant investigation in our shop, along with two other good ones on Hill Figures, all at bargain prices.
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/shop/celtic_hill_figures.htm
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    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by JimChampion on Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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    Yes, the "definitive" book is excellent, I highly recommend it.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by vlad on Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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What about possibility that the outline had been renewed (deepened) time to time in the past!? If my guessing is true, dating of the Giant could not tell anything about the very first execution of this image.
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    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by coldrum on Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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    The suggestion of it being 17th century is just that a suggestion.
    I think it was Ronald Hutton who came up with the idea.
    If i remember rightly,because he had not found any written evidence before the 17th century on the Cerne Abbas Giant it could'nt have been made before then.
    I have read his books and they are interesting. He does a lot of research, looking through church records etc. But I doubt that what he writes can ever be 100% correct. Records and documents over the years have no doubt gone missing, been destroyed, mislayed.
    And if we take his idea that if it's not mentioned in writing before a certain date it can't be old, that means that many of our ancient monuments can't be ancient as some of them especially in remote areas, were not written about untill recent centuries.

    As for the Long Man of Wilmington, the dating evidence came from the base of the hill not the figue itself.
    Story here:
    http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?thold=-1&mode=flat&order=0...

    Read the rest of this post...
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    Re: Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by Cernunnos on Sunday, 29 July 2007
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    I agree with your assessment... the dating of such a hill figure is nigh impossible, as scouring and natural hillside erosion may have actually deepened the figure over time. From a purely stylistic standpoint, there is nothing about the figure which links the giant to either the 17th century or to Oliver Cromwell specifically. Everything about the 'feel' of the giant points to a more ancient, and primal origin. If it had been meant as a work of 17th century political satire, then there almost certainly would have been explicit visual clues directly linking the giant to Cromwell -- if for nothing else, then so that the average contemporary viewer at the time could understand the figure for what it was.
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Cerne Abbas Giant & The Simpsons by TimPrevett on Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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See the BBC here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6901543.stm

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Link by coldrum on Wednesday, 20 June 2007
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A huge outline sculpted into the chalk hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas representing a naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant.

Public perceptions are wide-ranging, is he smutty, humorous or offensive? Certainly he has been used to advertise products as diverse as condoms, jeans and bicycles. Many couples today believe him to be a unique aid to fertility.

More on National Trust Site:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment/w-archaeology/w-archaeology-places_to_visit/w-archaeology-cerne_abbas_giant.htm
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Giant Search For Wildlife by Andy B on Friday, 23 June 2006
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The first wildlife survey of the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset is set to get under way.

The National Trust, who own the land around the well-endowed giant, will examine the plants and insects that live in the area.

"The Cerne Abbas Giant has a very special place in Dorset folklore and attracts thousands of visitors every year", said National Trust Advisor Simon Ford.

More: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13529408,00.html?f=rss
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